Palmer, James & Adarabioyo: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return datesplaceholder image
Palmer, James & Adarabioyo: Latest Chelsea injury news and expected return dates | Getty Images
The latest Chelsea injury news and return dates ahead of their Premier League game against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea will go in search for a third successive win under new manager Liam Rosenior on Sunday when they make the short trip across to London to face an out-of-sorts Crystal Palace side – but illness and injury have once again hampered the Blues’ preparations.
Cole Palmer was once again absent for the midweek Champions League win over Pafos, while Reece James and Filip Jörgensen were both substituted at half-time, raising concerns over potential injuries. Those worries are also set against the backdrop of a virus running through the squad, with midfielder Enzo Fernández the latest player to be affected.
With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Chelsea injury news and updates below, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.
Will Cole Palmer be back for Chelsea this weekend?
Talismanic attacking midfielder Cole Palmer has endured a stop-start season due to injury and was once again missing from the squad list for the 1-0 win over Pafos on Wednesday – with a thigh injury the cause.
Rosenior has talked up Palmer’s chances of being involved this weekend, however, saying that the issue was “minor” and suggesting that the 23-year-old “should be absolutely fine” to face Crystal Palace. He is expected to start barring unexpected setbacks.
At least three players won’t be so fortunate. Tosin Adarabioyo, who sustained a hamstring injury against Brentford last weekend, is expected to be sidelined for around three weeks and should return in mid-February, with injury-prone midfielder Roméo Lavia on a similar timeframe as he recovers from a thigh problem. The Belgian is back on grass but not yet in full training.
Centre-half Levi Colwill, meanwhile, is still rehabilitating from a ruptured ACL and may not play this season as a result. Chelsea are widely expected to sign a new centre-back as a consequence of his injury, and the one sustained by Adarabioyo.
Is Reece James injured – and will illness claim more victims?
A further injury concern was raised when club captain Reece James was withdrawn at half-time during the Pafos game, but Rosenior has moved to quell concerns – telling the press that he was simply managing James’ minutes and “making sure that he’s prepared” for the weekend. His participation is not believed to be in doubt against Crystal Palace.
Reserve goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen was less fortunate, however. The Dane was also taken off at the break, in his case because “he picked up something”, as Rosenior later said. The nature and severity of the injury have not yet been disclosed and his status for the weekend is unclear.
The good news is that the virus which has swept through Cobham and affected Liam Delap, João Pedro, Estêvão and more recently Enzo Fernández may finally be running its course – although unwell prior to the game, Fernández was able to play a full 90 minutes and Estêvão, who was unable to face Brentford, came off the bench. As it stands, there are no known cases of the illness among the playing squad, and the only other player who is expected to miss the Palace match is suspended winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
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